Q. With reference to 'Agenda 21', sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements :
- It is a global action plan for sustainable development.
- It originated in the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (UPSC Prelims 2016)
Answer:
1 only
Notes: The correct answer is
[A] 1 only. Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally, and locally by organizations of the United Nations System, Governments, and Major Groups in every area in which human impacts on the environment.
- Nature of the Plan (Statement 1 – Correct): Agenda 21 is a non-binding, voluntarily implemented action plan of the United Nations with regard to sustainable development. The "21" refers to the 21st Century. It aims to achieve global sustainable development by addressing social and economic dimensions, conservation and management of resources, and strengthening the role of major groups.
- Origin (Statement 2 – Incorrect): Agenda 21 did not originate in the 2002 Johannesburg Summit. It was a product of the Earth Summit (UN Conference on Environment and Development) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992.
- Evolution: The implementation of Agenda 21 was later reviewed at the Rio+5 (1997) meeting and the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10) held in Johannesburg in 2002. Later, in 2012, at the Rio+20 Conference, the commitment to sustainable development was reaffirmed.
Today, Agenda 21 has effectively evolved into the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which encompasses the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).